Johnson, Texans take on one of the greats in the Broncos’ Bailey

Not a peep of frustration emerged from Texans receiver Andre Johnson after a 27-7 victory Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Johnson only had three catches for 21 yards.

Johnson preferred the Texans keep running because that was working. For the five-time Pro Bowler, the time for personal statistics is long gone.

“When you’re a young player in this league, you tend to worry about that,” Johnson, 31, said. “Going through all the injuries and things I’ve been through over the last year, my big thing is just winning.”

It’s one of the lessons from his 10-year career in the NFL.

This weekend Johnson will face another player with such perspective in Denver’s Champ Bailey. Just as receivers throughout the league admire Johnson, Bailey is something of a pied piper of cornerbacks. Now in his 14th season in the NFL, Bailey remains among the best at his craft.

“He’s a great player, a future Hall of Famer in my book,” Johnson said. “It will be a great challenge for me to go up against arguably the best cornerback in the game and one of the best to ever do it.”

Bailey, 34, is an 11-time Pro Bowler, a record at his position, and was named an All-Pro six times, most recently in 2007. He is big, fast and smart. The combination of those attributes and his longevity have earned him respect throughout the league.

Kudos from Joseph

“That’s a guy I always follow throughout my career,” said Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who traded texts with Bailey this week. “I kind of emulate my career after him. He’s always up for the challenge each and every week. Throughout his career, he’s followed the best [opposing receiver].”

Until the past few years, that has been Bailey’s role — to shadow an opponent’s No. 1 receiver. But for the past few seasons, Bailey has done that less often. So far this season he hasn’t done it at all for the Broncos (1-1), who are coming off a 27-21 loss to Atlanta on Monday.

For Bailey, the challenge of facing Johnson doesn’t rile emotions.

“I play my game,” he said.

Bailey noted he would do whatever the coverage dictated he do. Bailey expected the challenge to be steep because of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.

“You have your elite quarterbacks, and he’s right up there,” Bailey said. “That’s what makes it tough when you cover a guy like Johnson, because the quarterback is so good.”

‘Best in the game’

Despite his esteem for the corner, Johnson also is avoiding ascribing special meaning to facing Bailey.

“I wouldn’t say a different mindset,” Johnson said. “I think you just know what you’re going up against. You’re talking about a guy who is very athletic, a guy that has played wide receiver in college. So he kind of knows both sides of the ball.

“Like I said, in my book, I think he’s a future Hall of Famer. He’s a great talent and arguably the best in the game.”
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